Alaska lawmakers override governor’s veto of education funding bill
alaska lawmakers have successfully overridden Governor Mike Dunleavy’s veto of an education funding bill that will considerably increase per-student funding and allow the establishment of charter schools. The legislation, which recently passed with a vote of 46 to 14, raises the base student allocation by $700, bringing it to $6,660, and includes new regulations on phone use and classroom sizes. This represents a $180 million increase in the state’s education budget.
while Gov. Dunleavy acknowledged the necessity for increased funding, he expressed disappointment that the bill did not set sufficient benchmarks for reading proficiency or expand access to charter schools. Lawmakers and educational advocates are urging that the decision be respected to avoid further instability in school funding, as concerns remain about the possibility of additional vetoes that could impact future budgets. The override message highlights the urgency for consistent and reliable education support in Alaska.
Alaska lawmakers override governor’s veto of education funding bill
An education bill in Alaska that increases funding per student and allows for the establishment of charter schools was enacted after lawmakers overrode Gov. Mike Dunleavy’s (R-AK) veto.
The 14-page bill included regulations for phone use in schools and classroom sizes, but the biggest part was to increase the base student allocation by $700. During the 2024 election cycle, Alaskan lawmakers campaigned to increase the base student allocation to $6,660, which determines part of how much schools are funded. The last increase to the base student allocation was in 2017.
The bill will see a $180 million increase in the state’s education budget.
The legislation would also allow students to attend schools outside their home district.
While Dunleavy agreed that the bill includes much-needed funding for schools, he said he vetoed the legislation because it fell short of his expectations for reading level benchmarks, increased access to charter schools, and schools outside students’ neighborhoods.
“We couldn’t get agreement on those policies, so in essence, in the end, this became a spending bill that we believe we could have done a lot better with,” Dunleavy said.
Lawmakers overrode Dunleavy’s veto by a vote of 46 to 14, but they only needed 40 votes to override it.
“I want to thank the legislators who came together to override the governor’s veto of HB 57,” NEA-Alaska said in a statement. “Parents, students, teachers, and education support professionals are exhausted by the back and forth and uncertainty around education funding. I hope Governor Dunleavy heard the legislature’s message and will respect the override. It is time to stop playing politics with our kids’ future.”
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However, there are still concerns that Dunleavy may veto additional appropriations for public education, which would leave school districts waiting until January to know their budget for the 2025-2026 school year, according to the Anchorage School District.
“The consequences would be immediate and far-reaching — disrupting classrooms, destabilizing schools, and eroding public trust in the state’s commitment to education,” Anchorage School District said in a statement.
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